Cigarette packing machine and method

ABSTRACT

A cigarette packing method and machine, whereby blanks, fed successively along a feed path inside respective feed pockets, are fed to a loading station where each blank is transferred, by a pusher and along a transfer path, to a respective packing pocket fed to the loading station along a packing path, and is folded partly, during transfer along the transfer path, to define a seat for receiving a respective wrapped group of cigarettes, and which is formed by feeding the blank and the pusher through a folding spindle located, at the loading station, between the feed path and the packing path and along the transfer path.

The present invention relates to a cigarette packing machine and method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

More specifically, the present invention relates to a cigarette packing machine of the type comprising a packing conveyor having a number of packing pockets, each of which is designed to receive and house a respective wrapped group of cigarettes and a respective blank, and travels along a packing path extending through a loading station, where the blanks are loaded into the respective packing pockets; a feed unit for feeding the blanks along a feed path through the loading station, and which comprises a feed conveyor travelling along the feed path and having a number of feed pockets, each designed to receive and house a respective blank; and a transfer device located at the loading station and comprising a pusher movable back and forth along a transfer path to transfer the blanks from the respective feed pockets to the respective packing pockets in a given transfer direction. A machine of this type is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,993.

In known machines of the type described above, the blanks are partly folded by inserting them inside the respective packing pockets.

Normally, and especially when the packing pockets have no movable walls, the above folding method calls for relatively prolonged stops of the packing pockets at the loading station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cigarette packing machine and method designed to reduce the stop time of the packing pockets.

According to the present invention, there are provided a cigarette packing machine and method as claimed in the attached Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a view in perspective of a blank used on the machine according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2 to 4 show a folding sequence of the FIG. 1 blank;

FIG. 5 shows a partial, schematic view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view in perspective of a detail of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 to 12 show cross sections of the FIG. 5 machine in respective operating configurations;

FIG. 13 shows a section along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Number 1 in FIGS. 1 to 4 indicates a blank, which, as it is fed by a packing wheel 2 (FIG. 5) of a packing machine 3 along a packing path P1, is folded about a respective wrapped group 4 of cigarettes (FIG. 4), i.e. a group of cigarettes wrapped in a normally foil wrapping.

Blank 1, which is known, is substantially rectangular, and comprises a central portion 5 extending along a longitudinal axis 6, and in turn comprising a front lid panel 7 having a reinforcing flap 8; a top lid panel 9; a rear panel 10; a bottom panel 11; and a front panel 12. Blank 1 also comprises two longitudinal lateral wings 13 located on opposite sides of central portion 5, and each comprising a portion 14 extending along front lid panel 7; a portion 15 extending along rear panel 10; a portion 16 extending along front panel 12; a tab 17 extending from portion 15 to portion 14; and a tab 18 extending from portion 15 to portion 16.

With reference to FIG. 5, packing wheel 2 comprises a number of peripheral packing pockets 19, each of which is designed to receive and house a respective wrapped group 4 of cigarettes (FIG. 4) and a respective blank 1, and is fed in steps along a packing path P1 through a loading station 20, where blanks 1 are loaded into respective packing pockets 19.

Each packing pocket 19 is substantially U-shaped, with its concavity facing outwards of packing wheel 2, and comprises a bottom wall 21 parallel to an axis of rotation (not shown) of packing wheel 2; and two lateral walls 22 perpendicular to bottom wall 21 and also parallel to the axis of rotation (not shown) of packing wheel 2. More specifically, the distance between lateral walls 22 is approximately equal to but no smaller than the width of central portion 5 of blank 1; the length of lateral walls 22 and bottom wall 21 equals the length of rear panel 10 of blank 1; and the height of each lateral wall 22 is greater than the width of a lateral wing 13 of blank 1. Packing pockets 19 may be equally spaced along the periphery of packing wheel 2, so as to reach loading station 20 one at a time. In the example shown, however, packing pockets 19 are formed, along the periphery of packing wheel 2, into equally spaced groups 23 (only one shown) comprising at least two packing pockets 19 (in the example shown, each group comprises three packing pockets 19), and packing wheel 2 is rotated in steps to arrest a whole group 23 at loading station 20 at the end of each step. Packing pockets 19 are mounted movably on packing wheel 2, and are controlled so that, at loading station 20, the packing pockets 19 in each group 23 are aligned and equally spaced, with a given spacing, along a plane S located along packing path P1.

In addition to packing wheel 2, packing machine 3 also comprises a feed unit 24 for feeding blanks 1 along a feed path P2 extending through loading station 20 in a direction parallel to plane S and crosswise to the axis of rotation (not shown) of packing wheel 2. Feed unit 24 comprises a feed conveyor 25, which travels along feed path P2 and has a number of feed pockets 26, each for receiving and housing a respective blank 1. In the event packing pockets 19 are formed into groups 23, as in the example shown, feed conveyor 25 is advanced in steps to feed a number of feed pockets 26 equal to the number of packing pockets 19 in each group 23 into loading station 20 at each step. Moreover, feed pockets 26 are spaced along feed conveyor 25 with the same spacing as packing pockets 19 in said group 23 along plane S, and are arrested at loading station 20 so as to face respective packing pockets 19.

As shown in FIG. 5, feed conveyor 25 is an endless conveyor extending about pulleys 27—only one shown—and comprising a conveying branch 28; and a return branch 29, which, in the example shown, extends through loading station 20, between conveying branch 28 and packing wheel 2. More specifically, pulleys 27 are so arranged that each feed pocket 26 on conveying branch 28, when arrested at loading station 20, is positioned facing a respective feed pocket 26 on return branch 29 and a respective packing pocket 19.

Feed pockets 26 of feed conveyor 25 receive blanks 1 from a group of three hoppers (not shown) located along conveying branch 28, upstream from loading station 20. More specifically, a suction loading device (not shown) withdraws three blanks 1 at a time from the outlets of the three hoppers, and inserts the three blanks 1 into three feed pockets 26.

Packing machine 3 also comprises a transfer device 30 located at loading station 20, and which comprises a pusher 31 movable back and forth along a transfer path P3 to transfer blanks 1 from respective feed pockets 26 to respective packing pockets 19 in a transfer direction 32 perpendicular to feed path P2 and plane S. When packing pockets 19 are supplied in groups 23, as in the example shown, transfer device 30 comprises a number of integral pushers 31 equal to the number of packing pockets 19 in each group 23, and each pusher 31 is positioned facing, in transfer direction 32, a respective packing pocket 19 located in plane S at loading station 20.

Finally, for each stationary packing pocket 19 at loading station 20, packing machine 3 comprises a hollow folding spindle 33, which is located along transfer path P3 at loading station 20, between feed path P2 and the. portion of packing path P1 extending along plane S, is penetrated by pusher 31, and is integral with any other folding spindles 33.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 6, feed conveyor 25 comprises two flexible belts 34 extending along feed path P2, separated by a distance greater than the length of blanks 1, and connected to each other by a succession of equally spaced cross members 35, each of which defines, with each of the adjacent cross members, a feed pocket 26 having a through opening 36 at, and for the passage of, central portion 5 of relative blank 1. More specifically, each cross member 35 supports a lateral wing 13 of each of the two blanks 1 housed in the two adjacent feed pockets 26, leaving the central portions 5 of the two blanks 1 free. And, along each of its longitudinal lateral edges, each cross member 35 has two slits 37 located close to the base of tab 17 and the base of tab 18 of relative blank 1 respectively.

Still with reference to FIG. 6, each pusher 31 is defined by a parallelepiped-shaped body, a rectangular bottom surface 38 of which is the same length as blank 1 minus respective reinforcing flap 8, is of a width approximately equal to but no larger than the width of central portion 5, and is divided by two transverse slits 39 into three portions, the intermediate portion 40 of which substantially coincides with rear panel 10 of a blank 1 housed inside the feed pocket 26 facing pusher 31. The depth of each slit 39 is greater than the length of tabs 17 and 18.

As shown in FIG. 6, each folding spindle 33 comprises a U-shaped frame 41 defined by two rods 42 parallel to cross members 35 and connected by an end cross member 43. Rods 42 define between them a rectangular passage 44 of substantially the same length and width as bottom surface 38 of relative pusher 31, to permit passage of relative pusher 31 and central portion 5 of relative blank 1 between rods 42. For each rod 42, each folding spindle 33 comprises two folding members 45, each of which is defined by an appendix projecting from frame 41 towards feed path P2 in transfer direction 32, and aligned in transfer direction 32 with a respective slit 37.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, each pusher 31 is movable back and forth, along transfer path P3 and through relative folding spindle 33, between a rest position (FIG. 7), in which each pusher 31 is located on the opposite side of feed path P2 to packing path P1, and a work position (FIG. 10), in which pusher 31 engages a relative packing pocket 19.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, folding spindle 33 is movable in transfer direction 32.

More specifically, from a rest position (FIG. 7), in which each folding spindle 33 is located between feed path P2 and packing path P3, each folding spindle 33 is movable back and forth, along transfer path P3, between an interference position (FIG. 8) interfering with the feed path, and a stop position (FIG. 10) substantially tangent to packing path P1.

Operation of packing machine 1 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12, considering one packing pocket 19, relative feed pocket 26, relative pusher 31, and relative folding spindle 33, and as of a start instant (FIG. 7), in which packing pocket 19 is located in plane S at loading station 20, and is positioned, in transfer direction 32, facing an empty feed pocket 26 on return branch 29 of feed conveyor 25, relative folding spindle 33 stationary in the rest position, a feed pocket 26 located on conveying branch 28 of feed conveyor 25 and supporting relative blank 1, and relative pusher 31 stationary in the rest position.

In connection with the above, it should be pointed out that the start configuration shown in FIG. 7 is simplified in the sense that, because of folding spindle 33, arrival of packing pocket 19 at loading station 20 is delayed with respect to that of relative feed pocket 26, and feed pocket 26 and packing pocket 19 are actually only aligned just before reaching the work configuration shown in FIG. 10.

To begin with, folding spindle 33 (FIG. 8) is moved towards pusher 31 into the interference position, and pusher 31 is moved in the opposite direction to folding spindle 33 to bring bottom surface 38 into contact with central portion 5 of blank 1. As folding spindle 33 moves into the interference position with feed path P2, folding members 45 engage slits 37 to fold tabs 17 (not shown in FIG. 8) and tabs 18 squarely with respect to respective lateral wings 13 into the position shown in FIG. 2. During this first folding operation, blank 1 is held firmly inside relative feed pocket 26 by pusher 31.

Next (FIG. 9), both pusher 31 and folding spindle 33 are moved in transfer direction 32 towards packing path P1, but at different speeds. More specifically, pusher 31 moves faster than folding spindle 33, and so penetrates folding spindle 33, so that reinforcing flap 8 (FIG. 13) is folded squarely with respect to front lid panel 7 by interference with cross member 43, and, at the same time, lateral wings 13 are folded squarely with respect to central portion 5, by lateral wings 13 interfering with rods 42 of folding spindle 33, so that blank 1 assumes the partly folded configuration shown in FIG. 3. As they are folded squarely, lateral wings 13 take along the previously folded tabs 17 and 18, which freely engage respective slits 39 in pusher 31 (FIG. 13).

In this partly folded configuration, blank 1 defines a cup-shaped seat 46—bounded by rear panel 10, tabs 17 and 18, and portion 15 of each lateral wing 13—for later receiving a respective wrapped group 4 of cigarettes (FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 10, on reaching the stop position close to packing path P1, folding spindle 33 is arrested, whereas pusher 31 keeps moving to expel the partly folded blank 1 from folding spindle 33 and insert seat 46 inside relative packing pocket 19, with rear panel 10 contacting bottom wall 21 of packing pocket 19.

In connection with the above, it should be pointed out that the width of lateral wings 13 is less than the distance between bottom wall 21 of packing pocket 19 and frame 41 of folding spindle 33 in the stop position, but is greater than the distance between the free edges of lateral walls 22 of packing pocket 19 and frame 41 of folding spindle 33 in the stop position, so that portions 15 (FIG. 3) of lateral wings 13 are maintained in the folded position at all times, first by rods 42 of frame 41, then jointly by rods 42 and lateral walls 22, and finally by lateral walls 22 only. Conversely, portions 16 of lateral wings 13, previously folded squarely by interference with rods 42, are released when blank 1 is expelled from folding spindle 33, and, not being engaged by packing pocket 19, spring back into a partly outward-folded position (FIGS. 4 and 10).

In other words, folding spindle 33 not only provides for forming seat 46 off packing wheel 2 and, in fact, before packing wheel 2 has stopped—thus reducing the downtime of packing wheel 2—but also for precreasing both portions 16 of lateral wings 13, and reinforcing flap 8.

With reference to FIG. 11, once seat 46 is fully inserted inside relative packing pocket 19, folding spindle 33 and pusher 31 are withdrawn from packing path P1 into their respective rest positions shown in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, when stationary at loading station 20, packing pocket 19 is associated with two retaining devices 47, which are located at the open lateral ends of packing pocket 19 at loading station 20, on opposite sides of packing path P1, and provide for holding tabs 17 and 18 in the folded position when seat 46 is housed inside packing pocket 19. Each retaining device 47 comprises two folding members 48, 49, which are movable, in opposite directions and parallel to packing path Pi, between an open position (FIG. 10)—assumed by folding members 48, 49 as blank 1 is inserted inside packing pocket 19, to allow passage of top lid panel 9 or bottom panel 11—and a closed position (FIGS. 11 and 12)—assumed by folding members 48, 49 as blank 1 is released inside packing pocket 19, to hold relative tabs 17, 18 in the folded position.

As packing pocket 19 is fed by packing wheel 2 out of loading station 20, the function of retaining devices 47 is taken over by fixed retaining walls (not shown) extending along packing path P1 up to a further loading station 50 (FIG. 4) where a wrapped group 4 of cigarettes is inserted inside packing pocket 19 and relative seat 46.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, feed unit 24 has no feed conveyor 25, and the three hoppers are located directly at loading station 20. 

1) A cigarette packing machine comprising: a packing conveyor (2) having a number of packing pockets (19), each of which receives and houses a respective wrapped group (4) of cigarettes and a respective blank (1), and is movable along a packing path (P1) extending through a loading station (20) where the blanks (1) are loaded inside the relative packing pockets (19); a feed unit (24) for feeding the blanks (1) to the loading station (20); and a transfer device (30) located at the loading station (20) and comprising a pusher (31) movable back and forth along a transfer path (P3) to transfer the blanks (1) from the feed unit (24) to the relative packing pockets (19) in a given transfer direction (32); the machine being characterized by comprising at least one hollow folding spindle (33), which is located at the loading station (20), between the feed unit (24) and the packing path (P1) and along the transfer path (P3), and is penetrated by the pusher (31) to fold the blank (1). 2) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding spindle (33) is movable in the transfer direction (32). 3) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding spindle (33) is movable along the transfer path (P3) from a rest position, in which the folding spindle (33) is located between the feed unit (24) and the packing path (P1). 4) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding spindle (33) is movable, in the transfer direction (32), to and from a position of substantial tangency with the packing path (P1). 5) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding spindle (33) is movable with the pusher (31), in the transfer direction (32), to and from a position of substantial tangency with the packing path (P1). 6) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed unit (24) feeds the blanks (1) along a feed path (P2) extending through the loading station (20), and comprises a feed conveyor (25) movable along the feed path (P2) and having a number of feed pockets (26), each for receiving and housing a relative blank (1). 7) A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the folding spindle (33) is movable, in the transfer direction (32), to and from a position of interference with the feed path (P2). 8) A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pusher (31) is movable, along the transfer path (P3) and towards the packing path (P1), from a position in which the pusher (31) is located on the opposite side of the feed path (P2) with respect to the packing path (P1), into a work position in which the pusher (31) engages a relative packing pocket (19). 9) A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the folding spindle (33) is movable towards the pusher (31) and into a position of interference with the feed path (P2) to perform a first folding operation on a relative blank (1) located along the feed path (P2); and is movable with the pusher (31), but at a first speed slower than a second speed of the pusher (31), to perform a second folding operation on the relative blank (1) along the transfer path (P3). 10) A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the feed conveyor (25) comprises two flexible belts (34) supporting the feed pockets (26) on opposite sides. 11) A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein: the packing conveyor (2) is moved in steps to feed to, and arrest in, the loading station (20) a group (23) of packing pockets (19); the feed conveyor (25) is moved in steps to feed to, and arrest in, the loading station (20) an equal number of feed pockets (26), each of which is positioned, at the loading station (20), facing a respective packing pocket (19) in the group (23); and each pair of facing packing (19) and feed (26) pockets is associated with a relative pusher (31) and a relative folding spindle (33). 12) A machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the packing pockets (19) in each group (23) are aligned, at the loading station (20), along the packing path (P1) and along a plane (S) parallel to the feed path (P2). 13) A machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pushers (31) are integral with one another. 14) A machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the folding spindles (33) are integral with one another. 15) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding spindle (33) comprises a frame (41) having a central passage (44) for the pusher (31) and for a central portion (5) of a relative blank (1), the frame (41) cooperating with the pusher (31) to fold squarely, with respect to the central portion (5), two lateral wings (13) of the blank (1), which are located on opposite sides of the central portion (5), and each comprise two end tabs (17, 18); and folding members (45), each of which projects from the frame (41) in the transfer direction (32) and on the opposite side to the packing path (P1), and engages a respective end tab (17; 18) to fold the end tab (17; 18) squarely with respect to the relative lateral wing (13). 16) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each feed pocket (26) houses a relative blank (1) by supporting the blank (1) solely by lateral wings (13) of the blank (1), and leaving a central portion (5) of the blank (1) free, and has a through opening (36) located at a central portion (5) of the blank (1) and permitting passage of the central portion (5) and of the pusher (31). 17) A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein, at the loading station (20), at least one feed pocket (26) of the feed conveyor (25) is aligned with a relative packing pocket (19) in the transfer direction (32). 18) A cigarette packing method, the method comprising the steps of: feeding a succession of packing pockets (19), each for receiving and housing a respective wrapped group (4) of cigarettes and a respective blank (1), along a packing path (P1) extending through a loading station (20) where the blanks (1) are loaded into the relative packing pockets (19); feeding a succession of blanks (1) through the loading station (20) by means of a feed unit (24); transferring, in a given transfer direction (32) and along a transfer path (P3) extending through the loading station (20), each blank (1) from the relative feed pocket (26) to the relative packing pocket (19) by means of a pusher (31) moved back and forth along the transfer path (P3); and partly folding each blank (1) to define, with the blank (1) and inside the relative packing pocket (19), a seat (46) for a relative wrapped group (4) of cigarettes; the method being characterized in that the seat (46) is formed along the transfer path (P3) upstream from the packing pocket (19), by feeding the blank (1) and the pusher (31) through a hollow folding spindle (33) located, at the loading station (20), between the feed unit (24) and the packing path (P1) and along the transfer path (P3). 19) A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the folding spindle (33) is moved in the transfer direction (32). 20) A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the feed unit (24) feeds a succession of blanks (1), each housed inside a relative feed pocket (26), along a feed path (P2) extending through the loading station (20). 21) A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the folding spindle (33) is moved, in the transfer direction (32), between a position of interference with the feed path (P2), and a position of substantial tangency with the packing path (P1). 22) A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein each seat (46) is formed by a first and second folding step of the relative blank (1); and wherein each blank (1) is subjected to the first folding step inside the relative feed pocket (26), and to the second folding step during transfer to the relative packing pocket (19). 23) A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first folding step is performed by maintaining the pusher (31) in a position in which the pusher (31) is located on the opposite side of the feed path (P2) to the packing path (P1), and by moving the folding spindle (33) along the transfer path (P3) from a position in which the folding spindle (33) is located between the feed path (P2) and the packing path (P1), into a position of interference with the feed path (P2). 24) A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the second folding step is performed by moving the folding spindle (33) along the transfer path (P3) from the interference position towards the packing path (P1), and by moving the pusher (31), together with the folding spindle (33) but at a faster speed than the folding spindle (33), along the transfer path (P3) and through the folding spindle (33) into a work position in which the pusher (31) engages a relative packing pocket (19). 25) A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the folding spindle (33) comprises a frame (41), which has a central passage (44) for the pusher (31) and for a central portion (5) of a relative blank (1), and cooperates with the pusher (31) to perform the second folding step. 26) A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the hollow folding spindle (33) comprises folding members (45), each of which projects from the frame (41) in the transfer direction (32), and interferes with the feed path (P2) to perform the first folding step. 27) A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein two lateral wings (13) of the blank (1), located on opposite sides of the central portion (5) and each comprising two end tabs (17, 18), are folded squarely with respect to the central portion (5) at the second folding step. 28) A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein each end tab (17, 18) is folded squarely with respect to the relative lateral wing (13) at the first folding step. 29) A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein each feed pocket (26) houses a relative blank (1) by supporting the blank (1) solely by lateral wings (13) of the blank (1), and leaving a central portion (5) of the blank (1) free, and has a through opening (36) located at a central portion (5) of the blank (1), and through which the central portion (5) and of the pusher (31) are fed. 30) A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein: the packing conveyor (2) is moved in steps to feed to, and arrest in, the loading station (20) a group (23) of packing pockets (19); the feed conveyor (25) is moved in steps to feed to, and arrest in, the loading station (20) an equal number of feed pockets (26), each of which is positioned, at the loading station (20), facing a respective packing pocket (19) in the group (23); and each pair of packing (19) and feed (26) pockets is arrested at the loading station facing each other and aligned with a relative pusher (31) and a relative folding spindle (33). 31) A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the packing pockets (19) in each group (23) are arrested, at the loading station (20), aligned with one another along the packing path (P1) and in a plane (S) parallel to the feed path (P2). 32) A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the pushers (31) are operated simultaneously. 33) A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the folding spindles (33) are integral with one another. 34) A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein a wrapped group (4) of cigarettes is fed into the relative seat (46), housed inside the relative packing pocket (19), at a further loading station (50) located, along the packing path (P1), downstream from the loading station (20) where the blanks (1) are loaded into the relative packing pockets (19). 